liveit sixth form conference

livesimply Sixth Formers Hit Manchester

350 sixth formers from 21 schools all over England and Wales arrived on a cold, damp Manchester morning. Some had come from as far as London and Cardiff and had set off at 5.30am. Others were more local. All had an amazing day…

Greeted by the world (a volunteer in a giant planet earth costume!) the young people knew this was going to be a bit different to regular classes.

After an opening liturgy by Ed Pike, Father Chris Gorton of Salford Diocese and his "glamorous assistant" led an interactive session on Catholic Social Teaching and the key figures and texts for livesimply in the style of the Oscars. The livesimply Awards went to the best planet (Earth, obviously!), Pope (Paul VI), and CST encyclical (Populorum Progressio).

Awards also celebrated the work of Rights of Children, CAFOD partners in Guyana, as well as Stephanie Lynch, a climate change activist in Liverpool.

Dr Mike Edwards, a climate change expert gave an electrifying talk on climate change, from his early memories of a local wood being cut down for executive homes, to his work raising awareness of the science involved and working with partners overseas to reduce their environmental impact.

Dr Edwards said that young people had an important part to play with their "energy, passion and determination to do something", and that "it's about you!" He said we needed to reconnect with the natural world, "be educated and educate others."

Degrees of Change

Students saw a specially-commissioned climate change play, 'Degrees of Change', which was performed by students from Loreto Sixth Form College in south Manchester.

Gerard Kearns, who stars in the hit Channel 4 drama Shameless set on a fictional Manchester housing estate, has supported CAFOD's work for many years and spent a day giving budding actors from the college tips on performing the play. 

It tells the story of four teenagers and their responses to climate change-related disasters in developing countries. It looks at why climate change is an issue of global justice and not just a debate about the science.

Gerard, 23, said: "I think the play's brilliant and hopefully it'll inspire people to reduce their carbon footprints, to lobby their MPs and to do their bit to help our world." 

Hard Questions

Students took control in a Question Time debate with Stephanie Lynch, John Battle MP (a veteran of the original Question Time!), Mike Edwards, and Jim O'Keefe.

John Battle told students to take a risk with non-violent protest, to be imaginative and to engage the media on these issues, "because the message is absolutely fundamental".

The hard questions weren't avoided: Dr Mike was asked how he could justify the fact that he had the biggest carbon footprint in the room, which sparked a debate on the "moral offset", and how we make decisions about what's important. Jim O'Keefe was asked why God didn't sort out climate change. He said it was up to us, not God, and that solidarity is the opposite of suffering, and that starts with us.

The final question was about what sixth formers could do to make a difference. John Battle MP said lobby your MP, to say "I'm doing this, and I want to talk about what you're doing".

Jim O'Keefe encouraged students to "get out there" and find out first hand what was going on in the world.

Mike Edwards recommended buying a guitar and move to the hills, forget about careers and take time to contemplate so we can "come back and shout a lot and change the system!"

Students were encouraged to get involved in finding out just what their carbon footprint was in the Climate Gym, find out more about Catholic Social Teaching in a 'Simply the Best' game, admire how fashionable recycled clothes could be, and write their thoughts and reflections on two giant graffiti walls.

Stephanie Clieve, aged 17, from Carmel College in St Helens, who tried out the climate change gym, said: "Today has been so informative because you always think: 'I can't make a difference, I'm just one person' but, actually, today I have thought: 'I can do something'."

During the day the students pledged to become Liveit! leaders and share the messages they had learnt with fellow students at their schools and colleges. Liveit! Leaders undertake a range of tasks in their school, college or University, and are awarded with a certificate for all their hard work.

Further resources:

Download Degrees of Change together with accompanying resources

See what the sixth formers got up to by watching films and photos of the day

Find out how to become a liveit! Leader

Read more bout the liveit! speakers